Car-coupling



UNITED STATES lPATENT Critics.'

DAVID H. ROYER, OF MILLMONT, PENNSYLVANIA.

CAR-COUPLING.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 400,797, dated April 2, 1889.

Application filed .Tune 27, 1888. Serial No. 273,366. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern,.-

Be it known that I, DAVID H. ROYERgof Millmont, in the county of Union and State of Pennsylvania, have invented certain Improvements in Car-Couplings, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to automatic carcouplings in which draw-bars are formed at their ends with beveled catches or hooks.

The aims of the invention are to simplify the parts, admit of the hooks being used either side up, as the position of the hook of the connecting-car may require, and to prevent the accidental disconnection of the part-s.

Referring to the accompanying drawings, Figure l represents in perspective a single draw-head or coupling constructed on my plan. Fig. 2 is a longitudinal vertical section of the same on the line on Qc. Fig. 3 is a perspective View of two of the draw-bars coupled together. Fig. 4 is a perspective view of one of the draw-bars.

In the drawings, A represents a hollow or tubular draw-head, which may be made in any form adapted to receive and sustain the parts herein described and connected to the'car in any suitable manner.

B represents the draw-bar consisting of a round rod or body portion, b, provided at one end with a rigid coupling-hook, b. This hook, which is formed upon or secured rigidly to the body, presents an outer beveled surface, b2, to ride against and lift the connectinghook during the coupling action, and a vertical face or shoulder, h3, to engage with the companion hook, this particular feature being essentially the same as in other couplings of this type already known in the art. The hook is also formed with uprising cheeks or sides b4 to assist in guiding the connectinghook to its place and to prevent its disengagement by a lateral motion of the car. These cheeks are beveled or flare outward from each other on the inner faces toward their forward end, whereby they are caused to present a converging mouth to guide the opposite hook to its place and to allow the hook to swing horizontally as the train passes around curves. The draw-bar or hook thus formed has its round body portion passed through two supporting-plates, C C', mounted strong spring, D, which encircles the drawbar, as shown. These plates are free to move toward each other, but are limited in their outward movement by shoulders o or equivalent stops formed upon or applied to the `interior of the draw-head.

The draw-bar is provided with pins c and c', bearing against the outer faces of the Asupporting-plates C C', for a purpose which will presently appear. The rear plate, C, maybe Xed against vertical play; but the forward plate, C', is adapted to play vertically to a limited extent within the head in order to allow a corresponding vertical play of the hook at the forward end of the draw-bar. The draw-bar is free to revolve about its longitudinal axis within the plates C C', so that the hook may be turned either side up-that is to say, may be adjusted with its beveled face upward, as shown in full lines in Fig. 2, or turned upside down to the position indicated by dotted lines in the same gure-this rotation being for the purpose of engaging the connecting-hook whether' the latter presents its face upward or'downward. Itwill be observed that in consequence of this capacity for revolution around a horizontal axis my coupling may be engagedl with a coupling on either end of the next car, it being unnecessary to observe any precaution as to the position of the coupling before the cars are brought together.

In the top of the draw-head I mount a strong spring, E, which bears upon the plate C, urging the same and thereby the draw-bar downward. Y This spring answers a double purpose. Vhen the hook is arranged with its face upward, as in Fig. 2, the spring causes its end and flat face to rest firmly upon the top of the shoulder a at the front of thev Alifting the hook which is uppermost out of engagement with the other.

in the draw-head against opposite en ds of a d IOO In Figs. 1 and 2, F represents a vertical rod playing through a hole in the top ot' the drawhead, its lower end being formed into a ring which encireles the circular portion of the draw-bar, while its upper end is jointed to a hand-lever, G, which is in turn jointed to the draw-head and extended laterally and of suitable form and position to be conveniently operated by the attendant.

The lifting deviee F and the Connections for operating the same may be varied at will without departing from my invention, provided only they are adapted to lift the drawbar and to permit its revolution in order to reverse the position of the hook.

The operation is as follows: Two oars being brought together', with the hook ot' one facing upward and that of the other facing down- Ward, one overrides the other and drops into engagement therewith in the manner shown in Fig. 3. If the cars are brought violently together, the shoulders bioll one draw-bar will meet the Corresponding shoulders ot' the other and serve as abuller, whereupon the yieldingn of the spring D will permit the plate C and the draw-bar to yield in a baek ward direction. 'When the train is in motion, the yieldingl of the spring D will permit the plate C and the draw-bar to move forward to a limited extent. The spring serves, it will bc seen, to

release the parts from strain and concussion,

both at the time ot' bringing` the Couplings together and also when the train is movingi'orward.

Having thus described my invention, what I Claim isl. The herein-described draw-bar, having' the beveled hook b2, the convergingside walls, b", and the vflatbearirig-faces at the front ends of said walls to serve as buffers and limit the motion of the heads as they are advanced toward cach other.

2. In Combination with the draw-head, the plate C, the vertically-movable plate C', the draw-head revolnble about its longitudinal axis, and the spring` E, actingI to urge the drawbar downward. I

In a oar-coupling, the draw-head, the two plates C (1 movable horizontally therein, the plate C being' also adapted for vertical inotion, the spring' between said plates, and the draw-bar having` its forward end provided with a hook and its rear end arranged to rotate in and slide through the two plates provided with pins or fastenings o e.

In testimony whereof I hereunto set my hand, this 5th day of June, 1888, in the presence of two attesting witnesses.

DAVID H. ROYER. lVitnesses:

S. P. STRICKLER, SHEM SPIGELMYER. 

